FrenchMystiqueTours

For those of you seeking out the real authentic France on your next vacation I've written a report to assist you in finding that which you are seeking. Just click on the link below to start your journey into a side of France rarely glimpsed by tourists.

http://tinyurl.com/4cszs2s

cocofromdijon

Nice and complete report, well done FMT! Thanks for spotting things we French don't always pay attention to.

julia1

Love, love, love it! Your photos, your commentary are so good! Just exactly what I do when in France (or Italy, or most other countries as well, for that matter), I get out and about, on foot or two wheels, to meander and explore! Thanks so much for sharing.

Suru11

Thank you - very entertaining and informative!

StuDudley

Marvelous photo essay!!! I got out my Michelin #106 map and followed your biking route. What a wonderful way to spend a sunny winter Sunday. Good tip on raiding the tourist office. Thanks.

Stu Dudley

annhig

what a lovely photo-essay.

perhaps it stays authentic deliberately to keep the tourists out?!

FrenchMystiqueTours

Coco - What is mundane for you French folks is often novel and interesting to us foreigners. I'm hoping you'll point out a few attractions for me the next time I'm in Dijon.

julia1 - Sounds like we've got a lot in common in terms of our travel style. Drop me a line when you come to Paris and I'll happily take you meandering.

Suru11 - You are most welcome.

Stu - What can I say. I'm flattered I was able to give a tip to the guy who I consider to be one of the master tip-givers on Fodors. When I need tips the next time I go to Provence or Dordogne or any other region where you've prepared one of your multi-page itineraries I'll drop you a line.

annhig - Thank you very much and that is an excellent point you make.

Coquelicot

Whenever you leave the house, your Fodor's fans benefit. You always show the parts of France we love to see. Thanks again, and may there be many more trip reports from you.

nukesafe

This thread was posted on another Forum and was deleted because it didn't conform to their "guidelines". I had responded to it because I thought it a wonderful description of a little understood aspect of touring France. I forwarded the link to a number of my friends who bike and are thinking of doing so in France.

Any idea why the other web site pulled it?

Padraig

That was a really enjoyable visit, FMT. Thank you. It's right up there with kerouac's photo-essays, which I am sure you accept as high praise.

You give me a great sense of vindication. Although I have never been in your "coin", all the images had a sense of familiarity: I have been in places just like those you depict. Yes, I think your mission has been accomplished: you have given us a representation of an authentic France.

Viajero2

nukesafe-- most likely it was pulled out because most independent travel forums (such as Fodor's) does not allow businesses to LOGIN and post using their business name (specially if in the industry). French Mystique Tours (FMT) is a registered business and they post using their business name; as such it is/may be considered adverstising. I commented to that effect before and many (including some posters above) completely confused "magnesia with magnesium" with it been a criticism on the content. FMT generally post great information under a registered business name. Quite simple why would that be considered non-compliant.

Is it really that unreasonable to comply with Fodor's rules and post this great information without having the business plug in?

Coquelicot

The trouble is, that other forum ignores or (let's give them the benefit of the doubt) may just be ignorant of other regular posters with travel-related businesses. But if it's obvious to me, why isn't it obvious to the forum moderators? (I won't out anybody, so don't press for details!) It seems unfair to let those people post for years and at the same time come down hard on FMT, who provides the best photos, the most entertaining commentary, and opens up new areas of France to a lot of people on this and the other forum.

I'm glad to see some of the regulars on the other forum weighing in on FMT's behalf. He's one of the freshest voices on their forum and on Fodor's as well.

Piccolina

Lovely photo essay FMT! What a fabulous way to spend a sunny winter day. Keep those photo essays coming!

Thanks for your tips on Brittany - the trip is finally set in motion and I can't wait to get there.

DebitNM

I'd seen that a post was deleted on the other forum and of course, my curiosity got the better of me. I have only recently started following the other forum as prep for an upcoming trip, so I had no idea as to the why etc of the deletion.

Imagine my [pleasant] suprise to find this here! What a glorious set of pictures and narration - I am now wondering how we might be able to see some of these villages during our May visit.

Merci for letting me ride along~

ira

Well Done, FMT.

Thanks for sharing

FrenchMystiqueTours

Thank you everyone for your readership and all your comments. I'm pleased to know you all enjoyed the report. I had a trip report deleted from that other forum over a week ago as someone must have reported me for some reason. I wrote to the forum moderators and the post was reinstated. Furthermore I received an apologetic e-mail from the moderators of that forum as they realized my post had in no way violated any policy guidelines. I am confident that in another day or two my recently deleted post will also be reinstated on that forum, thanks in no small part to those of you who enjoy what I write and let it be known.

Pat_in_Mich

Wonderful, thank you!

Padraig

DebitNM wrote: "I am now wondering how we might be able to see some of these villages during our May visit."

I think FMT's point is that you can find those villages anywhere in France that is (a) not Paris and (b) not primarily a tourist destination.

taconictraveler

FMT: I agree with other posters that your little photo essays are simply wonderful. I love, love, love seeing the photos of real places, and love to see them when visiting Europe.
One of the best for us was a very small ordinary town in the Loire, where we were determined to go to try to find ancestral home of my husband's family.
We only found them in the cemetery, but it was more than passably interesting to see an "ordinary" town.
When I travel, I crave seeing how people like me might be living. my gratitude to you.

kkukura

FMT- My son and I enjoy riding bikes (he is 18). We try to take a bike tour wherever we go because it gives a great perspective of the city and area we are visiting. This summer we will head to Japan and he will take his bike there. I will rent a bike while there too. Thanks for sharing France with us!